title: Trace element imbalances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: Concentrations of 15 elements were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis in brain, spinal cord, blood cells, serum and nails of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients and appropriately matched control subjects. Several significant imbalances were detected in trace element levels in ALS samples compared to control samples. Some of these changes are probably secondary to the loss of tissue mass, especially in spinal cord. However the widespread changes observed in Hg and Se levels in ALS tissues deserve special attention. The significance of these alterations in trace element levels in relation to the pathogenesis of ALS is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Khare
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Ehmann
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kasarskis
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Markesbery
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D009262:Nails / Q000378:metabolism; D009501:Neutron Activation Analysis; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements